'Back To Somalia': Trump Unloads At Ilhan Omar; Brings Up Minnesota Marriage Fraud

Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar and Minnesotas Somali community during a rally in Tennessee, just as the Democratic congresswoman faces intense scrutiny following a federal search of her Washington-area home.Trump singled out Omar by name, saying: She comes from Somalia. He went on to describe Somalia as a country without functioning government or police and claimed all they have is crime and squalor. Trump then mocked Omar for invoking the U.S. Constitution, saying: She comes into our country and she says, my Constitution allows me shes talking about our Constitution.

Married My Brother?: Ilhan Omar On Back Foot Amid Raid On DC Home & Trumps Stinky Somali Dig

Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing renewed scrutiny after federal agents searched her Washington-area home as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, reviving years-old allegations over her immigration history and past marriage.The Justice Department confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant at Omars home. DOJ has not publicly disclosed the precise evidence behind the warrant.

Somaiya targets actor Imran Khan over US citizenship claim

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has claimed actor Imran Khan, who participated in a protest, holds US citizenship and questioned his motive. Somaiya lodged a complaint, alleging a conspiracy to create anarchy through protests against electoral roll revisions and stating police assured him of summoning Khan for citizenship documents.

Ilhan Omar to Be Arrested? Trumps Agents Raid Democrats Home as Midterm Battle Explodes

A predawn federal raid on Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omars Washington-area home has ignited a political firestorm, putting President Donald Trumps bitter feud with one of his fiercest critics back in the spotlight. According to Fox News Digital, the operation followed a criminal fraud investigation involving immigration paperwork reportedly completed by Omars late father when she was a child. The Department of Justice confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorised search warrant as part of an ongoing federal investigation. However, authorities have not publicly disclosed further details, and no conclusion of wrongdoing can be drawn from the raid alone. The development comes after Trump repeatedly attacked Omar, accused her of fraud and said she should be thrown out of the country. He has also made inflammatory remarks about the Somali community, fuelling accusations of anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Railway MoS V. Somanna reviews works in Shivamogga, says contractor of new railway line will be blacklisted

'What they've done to Minnesota': Trump goes after Ilhan Omar, Somali gangs over migration fraud

'What they've done to Minnesota': Trump goes after Ilhan Omar, Somali gangs over migration fraud

Actor Imran Khan is an American citizen, alleges former BJP MP

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Imran Khan has landed in a fresh controversy after former Lok Sabha MP Kirit Somaiya alleged that the actor holds an American passport and questioned his participation in a political protest in Mumbai. Somaiya has approached the police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), seeking action over the actors participation in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Mother's 3-day walk with sick child highlights Somalia's child malnutrition emergency

A Somali mother walked for three days carrying her severely malnourished 3-year-old daughter nearly 90 kilometers to a hospital in Kismayo

Kirit Somaiya to approach Mumbai police over Imran Khan's alleged OCI violations

Somaiya said he had written to and spoken with Gamdevi Police Station about the FIR against the actor. He announced that he would visit the police station at 12.30 pm on Monday

Kirit Somaiya to file complaint over actor Imran Khan

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From a Tiny Alga to the Human Brain

What could a tiny green alga swimming towards light possibly have to do with the human brain? At first glance, almost nothing; yet a scientific journey that began with researchers trying to understand how a microscopic alga senses light, eventually led to a technology that allows scientists to control selected nerve cells with light and it subsequently changed the way brain can be studied. Recently, it earned sciences highest recognition as the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2026 has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth (Stanford University, USA), Peter Hegemann (Humboldt University, Germany) and Georg Nagel (University of Wurzburg, Germany) for discoveries leading to optogenetics. Beyond the achievement itself, there is a wonderful story about how science actually progresses. Important discoveries do not always begin with attempts to cure a disease or invent a technology. Sometimes they begin with somebody becoming curious about something in nature and asking a seemingly simple question: How does this work? Questions may initially relate to seemingly unrelated fundamental biology, but can ultimately lead to important discoveries directly related to humans and other beings. Following an alga towards the light Chlamydomonas is a microscopic, single-celled green alga. Like many organisms, it can respond to its environment - in this case, to light. Scientists wanted to understand how? That investigation led Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel and other researchers to proteins called channelrhodopsins. These proteins sit in the cell membrane and respond to light by allowing electrically charged ions to pass through. To a non-scientist, this might sound like an interesting but rather specialised detail about the biology of an alga. But scientists saw another possibility. A friend of mine working at University of Frankfurt during 2003-04 told me of his memories from the time when the researchers from Prof. Nagels team were conducting Electrophysiology experiments to understand the nature of these proteins and then figured these were light sensitive channels. Nerve cells also communicate through changes in electrical activity. So what would happen if this light-sensitive protein could be placed inside a neuron? Could one, quite literally, switch a nerve cell on with light? The question was intriguing and the idea worked. Karl Deisseroth and colleagues demonstrated that channelrhodopsin could be introduced into organismal neurons and used to control their firing with extraordinary precision. From this grew optogenetics - a combination of genetics and optics that allows particular populations of cells to be controlled using light. The implications were enormous. Imagine trying to understand a complicated electrical circuit by watching it from outside. You may see which components become active, but that does not necessarily tell you what each one actually does. Now imagine being able to select one component, switch it on or off, and observe what changes. Optogenetics gave neuroscientists something approaching that ability in the living nervous system. Researchers could begin asking: Which neurons initiate a particular movement? Which circuits influence reward or fear? What happens when a particular neural pathway is activated or silenced? How do circuits change in neurological or psychiatric disorders? An obscure question about how an alga responds to light had unexpectedly opened a new window into the brain. A Fascinating C. elegans (worm) Connection There is another interesting chapter in this journey. In 2005, Georg Nagel and colleagues took channelrhodopsin-2 from Chlamydomonas and expressed it in selected cells of a tiny nematode called Caenorhabditis elegans. (Prof. A. Gottschalk from Goethe University Frankfurt also deserves due credit for this work published in Current Biology in 2005). When the protein was expressed in muscle cells, illumination caused the animals muscles to contract. When it was placed in mechanosensory neurons - the neurons through which the worm normally responds to touch - light itself could trigger the behavioural response. It was the first use of channelrhodopsin optogenetics to control behaviour in an intact animal. There is something beautifully simple about that experiment. A protein from an alga had been transferred into particular cells of a worm. Light was shone on the animal - and the animal responded. Super exciting for a researcher! The experiment helped demonstrate a principle that would subsequently become enormously powerful in neuroscience: genetically identify the cells you want to study, make them responsive to light, and then use light to ask what those cells actually do. From an alga sensing light, to controlling cells in a worm, to interrogating circuits in the mammalian brain - the path of discovery was anything but obvious at the beginning, but ultimately led to fascinating science. Why do scientists study small models like worms, flies and algae? This brings us to a question students often ask: if we want to understand human disease, why study a worm, or a fly, yeast, zebrafish or an alga? The answer lies in one of biologys most fascinating features. Life is extraordinarily diverse, but evolution repeatedly uses and modifies successful biological mechanisms. Organisms separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution can therefore share fundamental genes, proteins and cellular processes. Scientists beneficially exploit this conservation by choosing organisms in which a difficult biological question becomes experimentally simpler. C. elegans, the organism used in that early optogenetics experiment, is a good example. It is about a millimetre long, transparent and has a rapid life cycle. An adult hermaphrodite has 959 somatic cells and 302 neurons. Individual cells can be identified and followed, genes can be manipulated, and the consequences can often be observed in the entire living animal. Its apparent simplicity has allowed scientists to answer questions that would have been extraordinarily difficult to approach first in humans or even in mammals. Research using C. elegans produced the first complete cell lineage of a multicellular animal, the first complete wiring diagram of an animal nervous system, and the first fully sequenced genome of a multicellular animal. More importantly, experiments with this little worm contributed to discoveries of fundamental biological mechanisms that turned out to matter far beyond the worm itself. When small questions become big discoveries The history of utility of C. elegans in research, is worth reflecting upon. Studies of how cells develop and disappear in C. elegans helped reveal the genetic control of programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Sydney Brenner, John Sulston and Robert Horvitz received the 2002 Nobel Prize for this body of work. Today, apoptosis is fundamental to our understanding of normal development as well as diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. In 2006, Andrew Fire and Craig Mello received the Nobel Prize for discovering RNA interference (RNAi) through experiments in C. elegans. A surprising observation about double-stranded RNA revealed an entirely new mechanism for switching genes off. RNAi became an indispensable laboratory tool and, eventually, the basis of medicines. Another beautiful example came from an entirely different organism. A fluorescent protein had originally been discovered in a jellyfish. Martin Chalfie realised that this Green Fluorescent Protein- GFP-might be used as a biological marker and demonstrated the idea in transparent C. elegans. Scientists could now make selected cells or proteins literally glow inside living organisms. GFP became one of the most widely used tools in modern biology, and the work contributed to the 2008 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Then, in 2024, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of microRNA. That story, too, began not with human disease but with researchers trying to understand developmental timing in C. elegans. A puzzling observation in a worm eventually revealed an entirely new layer of gene regulation. There is an important distinction here: the 2026 Nobel is not a C. elegans Nobel. Its scientific foundations span algal photobiology, ion-channel biophysics, molecular engineering and mammalian neuroscience. But the 2005 worm experiment is a fascinating early chapter in the development of the field - and another example of how discoveries move between apparently unrelated organisms. The unpredictable route from curiosity to medicine There is a broader lesson in all of this, especially for young people entering science. Today we understandably ask researchers about impact. What disease will this cure? What product will emerge? Can it be translated? How soon will it benefit society? These are legitimate questions. But if they become the only questions we ask, science loses something essential. Imagine if these researchers were asked during early days: What is the medical relevance of knowing how an alga swims towards light? Why spend years tracing every cell in a tiny worm? Why investigate a strange developmental mutant? What possible medical value is there in understanding why a jellyfish glows? At the time, nobody could have confidently answered: this will lead to optogenetics, apoptosis biology, microRNAs or GFP. That knowledge emerged because scientists first tried to understand nature. Application followed understanding - not always immediately, and rarely along a straight line or following an easy path. Why this resonates personally? Having worked with C. elegans for many years, I find this aspect of science particularly rewarding. In our laboratory, we use the worm to investigate questions related to neurodegeneration, ageing, proteostasis, glial biology, mitochondrial function and the gut-brain axis. How can events occurring in the gut influence neurons? Can metabolites produced or modified by gut microbes alter neurodegeneration or enhance neuroprotection? Why do some neurons withstand cellular stress better than others? How do mitochondrial function, protein quality control and ageing intersect with neuronal survival? These are large questions. The worm gives us a way of breaking them into experimentally manageable pieces while still studying them in a while organismal condition. One can relatively easily perturb a gene or a metabolic pathway, observe an identified neuron, measure a behavioural consequence and then ask whether the mechanism is conserved in more complex systems. That does not mean that what happens in a worm automatically happens in humans. Model organisms are starting points for discovering principles, not miniature substitutes for people. That distinction is important - and is also what makes good science both cautious and exciting ofcourse validations in higher models provide further understanding and research requirements of regulators have to be met before any fundamental research translates to human use. The pleasure of not knowing where a question may lead Perhaps the most inspiring aspect of the 2026 Nobel story is not simply that scientists learned to control neurons with light. It is the route by which they got there. Someone studied an alga because its response to light was biologically interesting. Others worked out how its unusual proteins functioned. Someone then wondered whether those proteins could work in another kind of cell. Researchers tested the idea in different experimental systems. Neuroscientists recognised what this could make possible. Each answer generated another question. And over time, an observation in a microscopic organism became a technology capable of probing some of the most complex circuitry we know- the human brain. This is how science often advances: not as a straight road from problem to solution, but as a chain of curiosity, observation, experimentation, failure, insight and unexpected connections. That may be the most important educational message of this years Nobel Prize. We certainly need scientists who can translate discoveries into technologies and medicines. But we equally need scientists who remain fascinated enough by nature to ask questions before anyone knows whether the answers will be useful. Because somewhere, perhaps in an alga responding to light, a worm behaving strangely, or another apparently insignificant observation in a laboratory, may lie the beginning of the next major discovery. In science, the size of the question cannot always be judged by the size of the organism in which we first ask it, hence, never under estimate the power of a small model organism. Author is Chief Scientist, Professor and Head, Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. His research interests include regulatory toxicology, neurodegeneration and ageing using C. elegans model and other experimental approaches to understand disease mechanisms/potential therapeutic strategies.

V. Somanna to hold meeting on railway projects in Shivamogga

Mumbai protest: Kirit Somaiya seeks probe into actor Imran Khans citizenship

Somaiya said the actor should be deported, while seeking clarity on whether he had obtained the necessary permission to participate in the protest organised in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)

BJPs Kirit Somaiya questions actor Imran Khans citizenship

'Can foreign citizens do such illegal things?': Kirit Somaiya seeks probe into Imran Khans protest participation

'Answer the question!': Senators torch Soros-funded witness at fiery Minnesota Somali fraud hearing

Decision on Prajwal Revannas transfer to Hindalga jail likely today; lawyers may challenge move in court

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 10 (IANS) A decision on shifting former JD(S) MP, Prajwal Revanna, who is serving a life sentence in a rape case, from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru to Hindalga Jail in Belagavi, is likely to be taken on Saturday, following the recovery of a mobile phone and a pen drive from his cell. Director General of Police (DGP) of the Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, Alok Kumar, has ordered the transfer of Prajwal Revanna, who is the grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and nephew of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, following the controversy over the recovery of the prohibited electronic devices. However, the shifting is understood to have been deferred temporarily, with the department yet to finalise arrangements for the transfer. Police said that the absence of a senior police officer to monitor the movement of the high-profile convict, following the recent arrest of the Belagavi Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG), is among the reasons for the delay. The transfer may be taken up once another officer is assigned responsibility for overseeing the process. It can be noted that Belagavi Rane DIG Somashekar was arrested on charges of allegedly misusing convict's wife and releasing him after creating fake Supreme Court order. Another consideration is that Revanna is produced before the court three times a week. His transfer to Belagavi could affect the arrangements for his court appearances. Meanwhile, his counsels are reportedly preparing to approach the court challenging the proposed transfer, citing alleged violations of prison rules and other procedural issues. The proposed transfer follows the recovery of a mobile phone and a pen drive from the cell occupied by Revanna at Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. The discovery triggered a major controversy over security lapses at the Bengaluru prison and prompted the prison department to order an investigation. On August 11, 2026, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) conducted a raid at the prison under the leadership of Deputy Commissioners of Police Haribabu and Imam Qasim. During the operation, a mobile phone was reportedly recovered from Revanna's cell, along with a charger, a blue notebook and a pen drive. The mobile phone reportedly contained applications such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which were password-protected. A forensic examination by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) reportedly detected several obscene video files on the device. A photograph purportedly showing Revanna speaking on a mobile phone inside the prison also surfaced, intensifying questions over the security arrangements at the facility. Following the recovery, DGP Alok Kumar ordered an investigation led by DIG Jinendra Khanagavi to determine how the prohibited items had entered the prison and whether any officials had been negligent in preventing their entry. An official email has reportedly been sent to Hindalga Jail authorities regarding Revanna's proposed transfer. The chief superintendent has also been informed, and arrangements are expected to be made for his relocation under police escort once the final decision is taken.

Union minister V Somanna criticises CM DK Shivakumar, urges focus on drought and governance

The News Mill

Milind Soman runs barefoot at 60

Trump online: A burst of anti-Somali and anti-Muslim rhetoric

In a burst of anti-Somali and

Milind Soman shares one shoeless habit that keeps him fit: It can help you burn upto 520 calories in 30 minutes

Milind Soman is a perfect example of being in great shape at the age of 60. His strong, well-built body at this age will set a great example for anyone looking to achieve fitness goals. The actor recently did something amazing - he finished two full Ironman triathlons in just six days. Each tough event includes swimming 3.8 kilometers, cycling 180 kilometers, and running a full marathon that is 42.2 kilometers long.

The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra - Official Trailer

Watch the Official Trailer from Bengali movie 'The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra' starring Anirban Chakrabarti, Suhotra Mukhopadhyay, Somak Ghosh, Ritwick Chakraborty and Raima Sen. 'The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra' movie is directed by Joydeep Mukherjee. To know more about 'The Eken: Kerala-e Kurukshetra' trailer watch the video. Check out the latest Bengali trailers, new movie trailers, trending Bengali movie trailers, and more at ETimes - Times of India Entertainment.

Kumaraswamy seeks halt to NICE toll collection, cites Rs 4,756 crore revenue

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 7 (IANS) Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday alleged that NICE had collected Rs 4,756.48 crore in toll revenue since 2008 despite the project remaining incomplete and demanded that toll collection be stopped immediately. Therefore, I demand that toll collection be stopped immediately. The State government should also take urgent action in this regard. I also appeal to the public not to pay tolls under any circumstances, Kumaraswamy said. NICE (Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise) project is a long-running controversy in Karnataka involving the development and land acquisition for the Bengaluru-Mysuru Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC). The project was conceived as an expressway and peripheral road network connecting Bengaluru and Mysuru, along with townships and related infrastructure. The main controversy concerns land acquisition, alleged excess acquisition, compensation and the use of land acquired for purposes allegedly beyond those originally approved. Addressing a press conference at the JD(S) headquarters, JP Bhavan, Kumaraswamy argued that despite the High Court making strong observations against toll collection, and the Supreme Court not issuing any stay on the matter, the continued collection of toll was illegal. The original project cost of the NICE road was Rs 1,583.76 crore. However, the company has so far collected Rs 4,756.48 crore in toll revenue. He alleged that toll collection was being carried out in violation of the terms governing the NICE project. He referred to the Karnataka High Court's observations on the project and said the Supreme Court had not stayed the High Court judgment. According to figures cited by him, annual toll collections stood at Rs 5.59 crore in 2008-09 and had risen to Rs 734.97 crore in 2024-25. He alleged that a total of Rs 4,756.48 crore had been collected between 2008 and 2025. 'How many more years will toll collection continue?' Kumaraswamy strongly objected to suggestions that toll collection could continue for another decade. How many more years will this alleged collection continue? They say there are still another 10 years of toll collection. On what basis? This cannot continue, he said. He reiterated his demand that toll collection on the NICE road be stopped immediately and that the State government take appropriate action in light of the court proceedings and the terms of the original agreements. Kumaraswamy said the issue had been pursued by the JD(S) and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda for nearly two decades and claimed that the matter was now reaching a decisive stage. Kumaraswamy said a Toll Concession Agreement (TCA) was signed on September 4, 2000, between the State Public Works Department and NICE. He said the agreement required the project to be implemented in accordance with the original Framework Agreement (FWA) dated April 3, 1997. In the event of any conflict between the TCA and the terms of the FWA, the provisions of the Framework Agreement were to prevail, he said. According to Kumaraswamy, the agreement also envisaged construction of a four-lane concrete road, service roads and maintenance areas before toll collection could begin. He alleged that these conditions were not fully complied with and that toll collection nevertheless began in 2008. NICE has been collecting toll despite not completing the project and has also acquired land belonging to farmers. The company cannot continue collecting toll without complying with the conditions of the original agreements, he said. Kumaraswamy also raised allegations concerning lake areas within the project. Referring to the H.T. Somashekar Reddy case, he said NICE had sought 6,999 acres before the Supreme Court, including 2,193 acres for the Peripheral Road. He said the land cited at the time comprised various categories of agricultural and government land and did not include lake areas. He further said engineer Kapil Sharma had, in 2021, used the Dishaank application to identify instances where roads had allegedly been constructed over lake areas and had submitted a complaint. Kumaraswamy said documents relating to the alleged encroachment of lakes were also released at the press conference. Kumaraswamy alleged that the project alignment was altered through the Outline Development Plan (ODP) on February 12, 2004, without obtaining the required Cabinet approval. He alleged that the changes resulted in an expansion of the land allocated to different components of the project. According to the documents cited by him, the land earmarked for the Peripheral Road was increased from 2,193 acres to 2,747 acres, while the land for the toll road was increased from 6,999 acres to 9,468 acres. Kumaraswamy alleged that these changes were made unilaterally and without Cabinet approval. He also referred to the Karnataka High Court's judgment of July 29, which, according to him, held that altering the original agreement through the ODP amounted to a fraud on statute and the Constitution and also criticised State authorities for their role in the matter. Kumaraswamy said NICE had approached the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court judgment. He said the Supreme Court had not granted a stay on the High Court judgment and had adjourned the matter for further hearing to November 2. He added that 25 lawyers, including those representing the State government, had appeared before the court in connection with the matter. Kumaraswamy argued that, in view of the High Court judgment and the absence of a stay from the Supreme Court, toll collection should be stopped immediately. He also pointed to a Cabinet decision taken during the S.M. Krishna government on November 4, 2002, under which toll collection was to be withdrawn if the four-lane concrete road was not completed within six years. Kumaraswamy alleged that NICE had generated revenue through avenues other than toll collection, in violation of the original Framework Agreement. He cited Rs 384 crore allegedly generated through land sales, Rs 108 crore received as advances towards joint development of land and construction projects, and Rs 338 crore from convention centres. He also referred to the recommendations of former Minister and Congress MLA T.B. Jayachandra, who chaired a House committee in 2016. According to Kumaraswamy, the committee had recommended taking over the NICE project and recovering excess land. Kumaraswamy questioned the change in Jayachandra's position, noting that while he had stated in August 2023 that the NICE road was not required, he subsequently wrote to the Chief Minister in May 2025 seeking completion of the project. This raises questions about what is happening behind the scenes, Kumaraswamy alleged.

Fenesta Open: Karthik upsets Kamboj; top seeds Manish Sureshkumar, Vaidehee Chaudhari in QF

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 7 (IANS) Pranav Karthik, the 21-year-old from Tamil Nadu, caused a major upset on Wednesday at the 31st Fenesta Open National Tennis Championship, rallying from a set down to defeat No. 4 seed Udit Kamboj in the second round at the DLTA in New Delhi. Kamboj won the first set 6-1 and was neck-and-neck with his younger rival in the second set, which went to a tiebreak. Karthik won the tiebreak 7-3 and carried that momentum into the decider to win 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in 2 hours and 31 minutes. To be honest, I was thinking I was going to lose for sure after the horrible first set, Karthik said after the win. I just kept serving well and maintaining my service games. And when it came to the tiebreak, it was 50-50. Then I just pulled it off with 3-4 good points. When I pulled off the tiebreak, I got more confidence and started going for my shots. The first game of the third set is always important because you have to keep pushing through and keep the momentum because you don't want to give him the breathing space. And thankfully, I got the break in the first game, and then I was able to run away with the match after that, he said. Meanwhile, the mens top seed Manish Sureshkumar had little trouble defeating Lakshit Sood 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. He was joined in the last eight by No. 6 seed Maan Kesharwani, No. 8 seed Rohan Mehra and Suraj Prabodh, who knocked out second seed Aditya Balsekar in the previous round on Tuesday. Sureshkumar and partner Nitin Sinha are also top seeds in the mens doubles draw and are scheduled to play their quarter-final match later in the evening. Also, the top five players in the womens singles draw booked their spots in the quarterfinals, with Vaidehee Chaudhari defeating 16-year-old Ahaan Ahaan 6-4, 6-1, while Shruti Ahlawat beat Parthsarthi Mundhe 6-2, 6-2. It was not easy or comfortable. I think the opponent was very good, Ahlawat said after the victory. I had to do everything to close the game, win the points. The score might look easy, but the match was good. I'm thinking point by point, match by match rather than thinking, I'll win the tournament. I would focus on my next round match and then see how it goes, he added. Third seed Akanksha Nitture also advanced, coming back after dropping the second set to defeat Yubrani Banerjee 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. I started well in the second set, Nitture said. I was hoping to finish it in two sets. She played well on the crucial points. But I had to reset for the third set. I knew that I needed to change a few things that I did wrong in the second set. I changed it in the third set, and it worked for me. I started keeping more balls in and started playing more consistently and mindfully. There was also a big upset in the Boys' U-18 singles draw as top seed Praneel Sharma was bundled out 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 by Veer Jiten Madam. Fourth seed Om Ramesh Patel and fifth seed Aditya Mor won their third-round matches in straight sets to join Madam in the quarterfinals. In the Girls' U-18 event, top seed Savitha Bhuvaneswaran was stretched to the limit by 14th seed Aahida Singh. The two battled for 2 hours and 45 minutes before Singh was forced to retire, with Bhuvaneswaran leading 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-0. Bhuvaneswaran was joined by second seed Parthsarthi Mundhe and third seed Shreeniti Chowdhury in the quarterfinals. Results: Mens Singles Second Round (Round of 16): Manish Sureshkumar [1] def. Lakshit Sood 6-0, 6-1 Pranav Karthik def. Udit Kamboj [4] 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 Maan Kesharwani [6] def. Rohith Gobinath 6-1, 6-2 Rohan Mehra [8] def. Ajay Malik 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 Suraj R Prabodh def. Debasis Sahoo 6-4, 6-4 R Jaisinghani def. Prakaash Sarran 6-5, 7-6 (9-7) Parth Aggarwal def. Deep Munim 7-5, 6-2 Womens Singles Second Round (Round of 16): Vaidehee Chaudhari [1] def. Aahan Aahan 6-4, 6-1 Shruti Ahlawat [2] def. P Mundhe 6-1, 6-3 Akanksha Nitture [3] def. Yubrani Banerjee 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 Sonal Patil [4] def. Akansha Ghosh 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4 Aditi Rawat [5] def. A Sonkusare 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Laxmi Siri Dandu [7] def. Bela S Tamhankar 6-0 (retd.) Sohini Mohanty [8] def. A Jadhav 6-3, 6-2 Soha Sadiq def. Saily Thakkar 6-1, 6-0 Mens Doubles Quarterfinal: Aditya Balsekar [3] / Pranav Karthik [3] def. Sandesh D Kurale / Prasad Ingale 6-1, 6-4 Jagmeet Singh [4] / Parth Aggarwal [4] def. Nain / Choudhary 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) Rohith Gobinath / Srikar Doni def. Karan Singh/ Aryan Chauhan 6-3, 7-5 Boys U-18 Singles Third Round (Round of 16): Veer Jiten Madam def. Praneel Sharma [1] 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 Om Ramesh Patel [4] def. Sharan Somasi [11] 6-3, 6-1 Aditya Mor [5] def. Lakshya Chukka [16] 6-2, 7-5 Yashwin Dahiya [15] def. Parjanya Adury [7] 6-4, 6-2 Ribhav Saroha [10] def. N Kirbakaran 6-0, 6-3 Raghav Sarode [12] def. Srivaant Mummadi 6-3, 6-3 N Badrinarayanan def. Aarav Bharat 6-4, 6-0 Srikar Doni def. Govardan Suresh 6-1, 6-3 Girls U-18 Singles Third Round (Round of 16): S Bhuvaneswaran [1] def. Aahida Singh [14] 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 3-0 (retd.) Parthsarthi Mundhe [2] def. Manvi Gupta 6-0, 6-0 Shreeniti Chowdhury [3] def. Aaradhya Meena [9] 6-3, 0-6, 6-4 Aahan Aahan [7] def. Aashi Kashyap [12] 6-3, 6-1 Anjhalle Meka def. Shibani Gupte [10] 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 Harsha Oruganti def. Ranjhana Sangram [13] 6-3, 6-2 Riddhi Shinde def. Heera V [16] 6-1, 6-2 Iha Joshi def. Miraya Agrawal 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) Boys U-18 Doubles Quarterfinal: Praneel Sharma / Aditya Mor [1] def. Sharan Somasi / Lakshya Chukka 6-4, 7-5 Girls U-18 Doubles Quarterfinal: Ranjhana Sangram / Sarena Gahlot def. Vaishnavi Singh / Aaradhya Meena [1] 7-5, 6-1 Shibani Gupte / Tanusshri Sathesh [2]def. Aashi Kashyap / Vrandika Rajput 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 Sanmitha Harini / S Bhuvaneswaran [3] def. Manvi Rathi / Paavani Bisht 6-1, 6-0 Sree Syleswari Velmanikandan / Riddhi Shinde [4] def. Heera V / Sree Sasthayini Velmanikandan 4-6, 6-4, 10-6

'Send her home to Somalia': Rep. Fine targets Ilhan Omar amid probe over immigration fraud claims

Koppal : Two Officials Arrested While Allegedly Accepting Rs 40,000 Bribe

The arrested accused have been identified as Somanath T, the administrative officer of Sangapur, and village assistant Hanumesh Bandi Anjaneya.

'I'm still waiting': Rep. Gill questions mass migration from Somalia, asks 'wheres the benefit?'

Indonesia to provide care for crew freed from Somali pirates

K'taka DIG held over life convict release by forging SC order

A Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) in Karnataka, M Somashekar, has been arrested for allegedly facilitating the release of a life convict in 2018 by forging a Supreme Court order. The convict's wife, also arrested, accused Somashekar of sexual exploitation. The case came to light after a complaint from the Bengaluru Central Prison Superintendent, revealing a complex conspiracy involving a prison assistant who forged the order.

Ktaka: Prison DIG held over fake SC order used to free convict

Digital Desk | Bengaluru, Oct 5 (IANS) Parappana Agrahara police in Bengaluru have arrested Prison Department North Zone DIG Somashekar on charges of allegedly releasing a life-term prisoner from jail on the basis of a fake Supreme Court order, police said on Monday. Police are questioning Somashekar as part of the investigation into the alleged forgery and illegal release of the prisoner. The prisoner, identified as Shankar, was serving a life sentence in a murder case. According to the police, a fake document resembling a Supreme Court order was allegedly prepared in 2018 to facilitate his release from prison. Police have alleged that Srikanth, a Second Division Assistant (SDA), prepared the fake order. Shankar and Srikanth have also been arrested in connection with the case. At the time of the incident, Somashekar was serving as the Jail Superintendent of Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. Shankar, who had been convicted in the murder case, was released from the prison on November 13, 2018, allegedly based on the forged Supreme Court document. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the preparation and use of the fake order and the role of the accused in facilitating the prisoners release. Investigators are also looking into the possible involvement of the accused in other similar incidents and are examining whether any other prisoners may have been released using forged documents. Further questioning of Somashekar and the other accused is under way as police continue their investigation. It may be recalled that, according to data shared by then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and former Home Minister G. Parameshwara, criminal cases were registered against 88 police personnel and officers in Karnataka for their alleged involvement in various criminal activities. Siddaramaiah had termed the involvement of police personnel in criminal cases as shameful and unpardonable. Parameshwara presented the official figures during a session of the state legislature, highlighting accountability within the force. Speaking at an annual conference of police officers, Siddaramaiah also expressed strong displeasure over criminal cases registered against members of the state police force. He referred to high-profile incidents, including an ATM cash van robbery in Bengaluru in which a head constable was allegedly identified as the kingpin. He also cited drug cases in Karnataka being cracked by police forces from other states instead of local law enforcement, which he had described as embarrassing. The state government had stated that it was examining stricter legal measures and seeking greater vigilance within the department to prevent such incidents.

Prisons DIG Arrested Over Assisting Convicted Prisoners Release Through Forged SC Order

Bengaluru police arrested Prisons DIG M. Somashekar for allegedly assisting a life convicts release using a forged Supreme Court order in 2018.

Karnataka: Probe widens after jail DIG held for prisoner release

Bengaluru: The investigation into the alleged use of a fake Supreme Court order to secure the release of a life convict has taken a significant turn with Parappana Agrahara police arresting Jail DIG Somashekar. The case dates back to 2018, when Shankar, a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case, was released from Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Karnataka DIG frees murder convict using fake SC papers, 'sexually exploits' his wife

Somashekhar, a deputy inspector general of Karnataka Prisons, was arrested for serious corruption allegations. The officer was involved in the illegal release of a murderer using forged Supreme Court documents. Additional accusations include sexually exploiting the convict's wife and granting unlawful paroles. He allegedly bypassed prison protocols to favor the convict, which violated established regulations. The investigation highlights extensive misconduct within the prison system during 2018.

Leaders from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia Unite on Sovereignty and Water Rights

Leaders from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia emphasize sovereignty and water rights in a joint declaration aimed at regional stability. Leaders from Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia Unite on Sovereignty and Water Rights

Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia issue declaration on Red Sea governance, state sovereignty, water rights

Digital Desk | Cairo, Oct 5 (IANS) The leaders of Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia have issued a joint declaration on state sovereignty, Red Sea governance, and water rights, stressing the necessity of adhering to international law as the foundation for regional stability and cooperation. In the El Alamein Joint Declaration issued following the quadrilateral consultative summit in Egypt's New Alamein on Sunday (local time), the leaders rejected interference in the internal affairs of the region's states under any pretext. The summit was attended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, and Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, reports Xinhua news agency. The leaders discussed regional and international developments and ways to strengthen political, economic, trade and cultural cooperation among the four countries, and addressed a number of regional issues. On Sudan, the leaders support the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national institutions of the Republic of Sudan, rejecting the establishment of any parallel entities. They reject any recognition of or support for the so-called Somaliland and affirm that the governance of the Red Sea is the exclusive responsibility of the littoral states. The declaration also stressed the importance of respecting international law regarding transboundary rivers, including the Nile River, particularly the principle of o harm and the obligation to cooperate through prior notification, consultation, and consensus. They categorically reject any unilateral measures that harm the existing water uses of the two downstream Nile states. The summit came amid growing Egyptian efforts to strengthen coordination with countries in the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea region over regional security and stability.

Milind Soman Flags Off Fit Gurugram Marathon, Inspires Run for Better Health

From 3 km to 21 km, runners of all ages hit the streets to champion fitness and preventive healthcare at the Fit Gurugram Marathon, an initiative by Fortis Healthcare. With fitness icon Milind Soman flagging off the event, the marathon brought together thousands in a collective push towards healthier lifestyles and greater awareness about wellness.

Ethiopia controls Tigray capital as regional rivals meet in Egypt

The presidents of Egypt, Somalia, Sudan and Eritrea all of whom have difficult relations with Ethiopia were set to meet in the Egyptian city of Alamein on Sunday to discuss the conflict.

RTC Driver, Conductor Attacked With Eggs, Stones in Gurazala

When conductor Somaiah got down from the bus to move the bikes, the group allegedly attacked him. The driver was also attacked, with the group throwing eggs and stones at the RTC staff.

America Doesnt Want You: Trump Slams Somali Immigrants, 'Ripping Off Americans'

Trump has repeatedly targeted Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Somali-born US lawmaker. He previously called for her expulsion from the United States and questioned her right to comment on American governance because of her birthplace.His latest remarks have reignited the debate over immigration, refugee admissions, political rhetoric and the treatment of Somali Americans.Watch the full report for Trump's remarks, his latest attack on Ilhan Omar and the growing political controversy surrounding US immigration policy.

UN allocates $160 million for humanitarian aid in 12 countries, regions

Digital Desk | United Nations, Oct 3 (IANS) The United Nations has released 160 million US dollars in emergency funding to support life-saving assistance in 12 countries and regions facing severe humanitarian needs, UN humanitarian officials said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday (local time) said the Central Emergency Response Fund designated 150 million dollars of the allocation for Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cuba, Mali, Niger, the occupied Palestinian territory, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen. An additional 10 million dollars was earmarked to address the urgent needs of people with disabilities across the 12 humanitarian emergencies and make aid more accessible and inclusive, OCHA said. The funding is part of a broader effort to reach 87 million people facing the most severe humanitarian needs this year, according to OCHA. Today's new funding will help us get aid to people who might otherwise be left behind, said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, reports Xinhua news agency. But money alone won't get us there: leaders must exercise political will to open access, remove obstacles and help us reach people whose lives are on the line. Afghanistan, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen are also among 10 humanitarian emergencies where Fletcher has called for urgent diplomatic action to secure access and help reach 11 million of the 87 million people prioritised for assistance this year, OCHA said.

Swami Ramji: The Saint who Rekindled the Flame of Kashmir Shaivism

There are moments in the history of a civilisation when a tradition, though never completely extinguished, appears to recede into the shadows of time. Its texts survive in manuscripts, its wisdom remains preserved in the memories of a few teachers, and its spiritual practices continue quietly within a small circle. Then comes an individual who reconnects the broken threads, restores confidence in the tradition and transmits its knowledge to a new generation. In the modern history of Kashmir Shaivism, Swami Ramji Maharaj (18541915) occupies such a significant place. A saint, scholar, practitioner and teacher, he helped revive the living study and practice of the Trika tradition in nineteenth-century Kashmir and prepared the ground for its remarkable transmission into the twentieth century. His influence was not merely personal or devotional. It extended to the preservation, teaching and publication of the intellectual heritage of Kashmir Shaivism. Swami Ram was born in 1854 into a Kashmiri Pandit family in Srinagar. Accounts of his life describe an early inclination towards spiritual inquiry and the study of Shaiva scriptures. He came into the orbit of learned teachers who introduced him to the Agamas and the philosophical literature of Kashmir Shaivism. His spiritual formation eventually brought him into contact with Swami Manas Ram Mongra, popularly known as Maneh Kak, who became an important guru in his life and in the transmission of the Trika tradition. To understand Swami Rams importance, however, one must first appreciate the intellectual grandeur of the tradition he inherited. Kashmir Shaivism was not simply a sectarian religious doctrine. It represented one of Indias most sophisticated schools of non-dual philosophical thought. Its classical development is associated with masters such as Vasugupta, Somananda, Utpaladeva, Abhinavagupta and Kshemaraja. At its heart lies the recognition that ultimate reality is Shiva, an infinite, self-luminous consciousness, and that the universe is not fundamentally separate from that reality. The word Pratyabhijnarecognitionis central to this philosophical vision. The human being does not have to manufacture an entirely new reality; rather, one must recognise the deeper nature of consciousness that is already present. The world, in this understanding, is not merely an illusion to be rejected. It is an expression of the dynamic power, or Shakti, of the supreme consciousness. This philosophical inheritance had reached extraordinary heights in the works of Abhinavagupta and his successors. But the historical circumstances of Kashmir subsequently made the institutional continuity of many Shaiva traditions increasingly fragile. By the nineteenth century, the tradition needed not merely textual preservation but living teachers who could embody and transmit it. It was in this environment that Swami Ram emerged. His significance lay in bringing together scriptural learning, philosophical understanding and spiritual practice. He did not approach Kashmir Shaivism as an intellectual museum. The Agamas, the works of the great acharyas and the practices of the Trika system were, for him, a living path. Accounts of his life describe periods of intense meditation, study and spiritual discipline. His teaching attracted both serious seekers and householders. This is important because Kashmir Shaivism does not necessarily demand withdrawal from worldly responsibilities as the only route to spiritual realisation. Its philosophical framework allows the spiritual quest to unfold while recognising the realities of human life. Swami Ram eventually established his Trika Shaiva Ashram at Fateh Kadal in Srinagar, generally dated to the 1880s. The ashram became an important centre for the study and transmission of Shaiva philosophy in modern Kashmir. From this centre emerged a remarkable lineage of teachers and disciples. Among his important disciples were Swami Mahtab Kak, Swami Vidyadhar and Swami Govind Kaul Jalali. Swami Mahtab Kak would subsequently become the principal teacher of Swami Lakshmanjoo, one of the most important twentieth-century exponents of Kashmir Shaivism. Thus, the intellectual and spiritual influence of Swami Ram extended well beyond his own lifetime. The connection with Lakshmanjoo is particularly significant. Swami Lakshmanjoo was born in Srinagar in 1907. Accounts associated with his lineage describe Swami Ram as recognising the young Lakshmans spiritual inclination and entrusting his further education to Mahtab Kak. Whether viewed through the language of traditional guru-shishya transmission or through the history of ideas, the succession is remarkable: Swami Ram Mahtab Kak Swami Lakshmanjoo. Through Lakshmanjoo, the teachings of Kashmir Shaivism eventually reached audiences far beyond Kashmir. The revival initiated in the nineteenth century thus acquired a much wider intellectual and spiritual horizon in the twentieth century. Swami Rams contribution, however, went beyond the immediate guru-shishya relationship. One of the most consequential developments associated with the revival of Kashmir Shaivism was the systematic publication of its ancient texts. The Kashmir Series of Texts and Studies (KSTS), initiated under Maharaja Pratap Singh in the early twentieth century, became a landmark in making important Sanskrit works of Kashmirs philosophical heritage available in printed form. Sources associated with the tradition credit Swami Ram with encouraging Maharaja Pratap Singh to undertake such a publication effort. This was an extraordinary act of intellectual foresight. A philosophical tradition cannot remain alive indefinitely if its principal texts are inaccessible. Manuscripts can disappear, deteriorate or remain confined to a small number of custodians. Printing transformed the possibilities of transmission. The KSTS therefore became an important bridge between Kashmirs classical intellectual heritage and modern scholarship. Swami Ram understood that preservation required both realisation and documentation, both guru and grantha, both lived experience and accessible texts. That insight deserves particular attention today. The modern world often separates philosophy from spirituality. Academic institutions may study philosophical systems primarily as historical objects, while spiritual communities may sometimes emphasise experience without sufficient attention to textual rigour. The Kashmir Shaiva tradition historically brought these dimensions together. Swami Ram represented that synthesis in the modern period. He studied the philosophical works of the great masters and transmitted their ideas through oral teaching and spiritual discipline. Among the works associated with his teaching tradition were texts connected with Vasugupta, Utpaladeva and Abhinavagupta, including the Stotravali, Shivastotravali, Tantraloka and Panchastavi. The deeper message of this tradition remains relevant. Kashmir Shaivism places consciousness at the centre of its philosophical inquiry. It asks the individual to look beyond fragmented perceptions of the self and recognise a deeper unity. In a world increasingly marked by anxiety, polarisation and material preoccupation, the philosophical proposition that consciousness is not merely an accidental phenomenon but central to our understanding of existence retains considerable contemporary interest. Yet Swami Ram should not be reduced to a philosophical slogan. His importance lies in the continuity he embodied. Kashmirs civilisation produced a remarkable succession of philosophers, mystics, poets and spiritual teachers. From Lalleshwari to Abhinavagupta, from Rupa Bhawani to Swami Ram and subsequently to Swami Lakshmanjoo, there is a fascinating history of intellectual and spiritual creativity. These figures belong to different historical circumstances and should not be artificially made identical. But together they demonstrate the remarkable resilience of Kashmirs contemplative traditions. Swami Rams place in this continuum is that of a bridge-builder between classical Kashmir and the modern age. He inherited a tradition that had achieved its classical philosophical expression many centuries earlier. He revived its teaching in a period when its institutional presence had weakened. He created a space where seekers could study and practise. He trained disciples who carried the tradition forward. And he encouraged the preservation and publication of the textual heritage upon which future generations of scholars and practitioners could depend. His legacy therefore belongs not merely to one community or one period. It forms part of the larger intellectual heritage of India. In remembering Swami Ram, Kashmir remembers one of those quiet civilisational figures whose influence cannot be measured simply by books written or institutions founded. His contribution was to ensure that a profound stream of Indian philosophical thought continued to flow. He passed away in 1915, but the lineage did not end with him. It moved through his disciples and ultimately reached new generations and new continents. That may be the most enduring lesson of Swami Rams life: civilisations survive not merely because their monuments remain standing, but because their knowledge is transmitted from one generation to another. Kashmir Shaivism is one such stream of knowledge. Swami Ram was among the modern custodians who helped keep that stream alive. At a time when Kashmirs ancient intellectual inheritance deserves renewed studywithin India and beyondhis life invites us to look again at the philosophical treasures that emerged from the Valley. The story of Swami Ram is, in that sense, not only the story of a saint. It is the story of memory, continuity and civilisational renewal. And perhaps that is why his legacy continues to matter: he did not merely look back at Kashmirs great philosophical past. He helped ensure that it could speak to the future. (The Author is a columnist, a public intellectual and a noted legal eagle)

Turkey mine accident: Three trapped miners found dead, death toll reaches five

Five miners died after a mine collapse in Soma, western Turkey. Rescuers recovered the bodies of three workers trapped underground, while two others were rescued and hospitalised. Seven workers were caught in the collapse, authorities said

Mumbai airport mosque row: MMRDA hearing scheduled for October 5

In a post on X, Somaiya said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) had informed the authorities that the land was government-owned and that no permission had been granted to Mohammad Sarwar or others for the construction

Dharapuram bypoll campaign: Enthusiastic welcome by workers, people to TN CM Vijay

Digital Desk | Coimbatore, Sep 30 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, received an enthusiastic welcome from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) workers and members of the public on Wednesday as he arrived to campaign for the Dharapuram Assembly bypoll. CM Vijay flew from Chennai on a private aircraft before beginning his road journey to Dharapuram in Tiruppur district, where he was scheduled to address a public meeting in support of TVK candidate Sathyabama. The visit marked C. Joseph Vijay's first arrival in Coimbatore since taking over as Chief Minister. Party workers and residents gathered along the route to greet him, with people from across the Kongu region joining the crowds. Many had been waiting in the scorching heat, hoping to catch a glimpse of CM Vijay as his campaign vehicle passed through their localities. The reception extended beyond Coimbatore, drawing supporters from surrounding areas ahead of the Dharapuram meeting. After reaching the airport, CM Vijay held a discussion with the District Collector and other government officials. He then walked a short distance along the road before boarding a campaign vehicle for the onward journey. Police made security arrangements along the route, placing barricades on both sides of the road to regulate the crowds. Personnel were deployed to prevent supporters from crossing the roadway as the Chief Ministers vehicle moved towards the meeting venue. The arrangements kept those waiting to see CM Vijay behind the barricades, allowing the campaign vehicle to proceed along the route. Crowds lined both sides of the road as party workers and members of the public awaited his arrival. From Coimbatore airport, CM Vijays route to Dharapuram passed through Chinniyampalayam, Neelambur, Kaniyur, Karumathampatti, Somanur, Karanampettai and Palladam. The journey took him through several localities before reaching the public meeting venue in Tiruppur district. The Dharapuram visit is centred on the partys campaign for Sathyabama, who is contesting the forthcoming Assembly bypoll. The crowds gathering since morning reflected the anticipation surrounding his visit, particularly among supporters waiting along the road rather than at the meeting venue alone. Officials said CM Vijay would return to Chennai by private aircraft at 7 p.m. after completing the public meeting and his campaign engagement in Dharapuram.

Indian sailor among five killed, another injured as Somali forces retake hijacked tanker

Puntland Maritime Police Force says three Pakistanis, one Indian and one Myanmar national were killed before it retook the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25 from pirates

Indian sailor, 4 others killed by Somali pirates

An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed by pirates aboard the Palau-flagged fuel tanker MT Honour 25 in Somalia. Puntland Maritime Police Force rescued the vessel, apprehending 16 suspected pirates. Separately, another Togo-flagged tanker, MT Eureka, was released with its 12 crew members unharmed, though the vessel was damaged.

Indian crew member among five killed by pirates in Somalia tanker hijacking

An Indian sailor was among five crew members killed by pirates aboard the hijacked fuel tanker MT Honour 25 off Somalia. Puntland forces retook the vessel, arrested 16 suspected pirates and rescued surviving crew members after the deadly attack

Indian Sailor Among 5 Killed By Pirates In Hijacked Somalia Tanker

Puntland Forces Retake Fuel Tanker, Apprehend 16 Suspected Pirates

Somatrace Turns Athlete Movement Into Data

Somatrace is more than just a wearable device. It combines technology with an athletes experience. The post Somatrace Turns Athlete Movement Into Data appeared first on Fusion - WeRIndia .

Somali pirates kill 5 crew members before tanker rescue, state authorities say

Somali pirates killed five crew members of the hijacked MT Honour 25 petroleum products tanker before it was rescued by security forces, Somalia's semi-autonomous state of Puntland said on Tuesday. The deaths aboard the Palau-flagged ship appear to be the first at the hands of Somali

WFP warns of critical funding shortfalls as climate risks surge in Somalia

Digital Desk | Mogadishu, Sep 29 (IANS) The World Food Program (WFP) warned Tuesday of severe funding shortfalls that are drastically reducing its reach in Somalia amid a humanitarian crisis driven by drought and climate risks. The WFP warned that current funding constraints will force it to assist fewer than 5 per cent of Somalis facing emergency hunger starting in October, down from more than four million people per month during the 2022-2023 drought response, while funding for nutrition treatment will be completely depleted by the end of September, Xinhua News Agency reported. Malnutrition remains alarmingly high, with nearly 2 million children projected to suffer acute malnutrition in 2026, including 433,000 children facing severe acute malnutrition and requiring urgent treatment, it said in its latest report. According to the WFP, Somalia is entering the October-December Deyr rainy season under a high-risk climate scenario. El Nino conditions are expected to bring above-normal rainfall across parts of central and southern Somalia, with climate signals mirroring the severe flood events of 1997 and 2023, WFP said. It said areas along the Juba and Shabelle river basins face the highest risk, raising grave concerns over widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods, and severe disruptions to humanitarian access. Last week, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned that projected El Nino rains and severe flooding could affect up to 3.4 million people in Somalia across 16 regions between October and December. OCHA warned that the combination of flooding, displacement, and inadequate sanitation risks triggering widespread waterborne disease outbreaks, occurring just as at least 380 health facilities have closed or scaled back operations due to critical funding shortages. The potential flooding might match or surpass the severe 2023 and 1997 seasons -- Somalia's two worst flood benchmarks -- and arrive before communities recover from the prolonged drought this year, OCHA said on Sept. 22. According to the WFP, one-third of Somalia's population, or 5.4 million people, is acutely food insecure, with nearly 1.5 million facing emergency-level hunger between October and December.

Puntland forces rescue another hijacked ship from Somali pirates

Security forces from Somalia's

'Shoveling money out the door': Minneapolis audit puts Walz & Minnesota Somali fraud under scrutiny

Sikkim BJP backs EC on SIR, rejects Oppn allegations of electoral manipulation

Digital Desk | Gangtok, Sep 28 (IANS) The Sikkim Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday backed the Election Commission's recent clarification on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, dismissing allegations of manipulation and malpractice raised by the Congress and other opposition parties. BJP spokesperson Passang Gyali Sherpa said the poll panel's joint statement had provided factual clarification on what he described as several misleading claims surrounding the electoral process and the ongoing revision exercise. Sherpa added that the Election Commission had made it clear that key operational and regulatory decisions, including the SIR, were taken with the unanimous approval of the full Commission. He also referred to the Election Commission's clarification regarding its communication to the Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan, saying it concerned an internal administrative matter involving an officer on deputation and had no connection with the Commission's policy decisions, Information Technology division or the SIR exercise. On the legal aspects of electoral-roll revision, Sherpa said the declaration accompanying Form-6 for the SIR exercise had been examined and upheld by the Supreme Court. He added that statutory procedures under the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, continued to govern electoral-roll revisions outside the SIR framework. The BJP leader also highlighted measures announced by the Election Commission to widen voter participation. These include dedicated outreach camps for labourers, homeless citizens and people residing in night shelters, besides door-to-door efforts by Booth Level Officers to distribute and collect forms and facilitate enrolment of eligible voters. Referring to the ongoing SIR process in Sikkim, Sherpa said recognised political parties had been asked to nominate Booth Level Agents (BLA) and BLA-2 representatives at every polling booth. He added that the arrangement would allow political parties to participate in the verification process and assist Booth Level Officers in examining electoral details. Rejecting allegations that the BJP had interferred in or manipulated the voter revision exercise, Sherpa termed the charges completely baseless and devoid of factual foundation. He urged political parties to substantiate allegations with evidence and cautioned against statements that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process. Sherpa called upon all stakeholders to respect constitutional institutions and established legal procedures, saying electoral debates should be based on verified facts and the Election Commission's stated framework.

Somanna Highlights AP Railway Expansion As Rs. 108-Cr Guntur ROB Gets Underway

Union minister V. Somanna laid the foundation stone for a Rs. 108-crore four-lane ROB between Guntur and Nambur railway stations.

ECI Clears Air On ECINet Row: What Sandhu And Joshi Told Cabinet Secretary

The Election Commission of India (ECI) clarified on Saturday that the letters sent to the Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan by the Election Commissioners, Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, were not related to any decision regarding the IT wing of

Work to begin on Rs 108 crore 4-lane ROB between Guntur and Nambur railway stations

Digital Desk | New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS) The government on Saturday said the foundation stone for a four-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) between Guntur and Nambur railway stations has been laid at an estimated cost of Rs 108 crore. In a key incentive to urban mobility and rail safety under the vision of New Railways, New Andhra Pradesh, the foundation stone was laid by Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, in the presence of Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar. The 668-metre, four-lane ROB will replace Level Crossing (LC) Gate No 3, on the Guntur-Krishna Canal section of the Guntur-Nambur line. Situated near the Inner Ring Road of Guntur City, the bridge connects Bus Stand Road directly with Gorantla Village. Requiring 2.9 acres of land, construction works are scheduled to commence shortly, said Railways Ministry. Somanna said that Indian Railways accords top priority to passenger safety and operational efficiency. He noted that eliminating level crossing gates through modern ROBs and RUBs is an essential step toward achieving zero accidents and punctuality. The minister further stated that the Central Government is modernising rail infrastructure at an unprecedented pace across Andhra Pradesh, and this 4-lane bridge will save valuable commute time, reduce fuel wastage, prevent vehicle detentions, and foster regional socio-economic development. Moreover, 74 railway stations in the state are being modified with modern world class amenities with an investment of Rs 3,500 crore. Dr Pemmasani said the Centre remains firmly dedicated to the rapid expansion of Andhra Pradeshs transport infrastructure. He highlighted that close synergy between Central and State departments is fast-tracking key road and rail projects in the Guntur region to deliver world-class connectivity and resolve long-standing traffic bottlenecks for local residents. The project will help eliminate gate detentions and ensure seamless flow of city vehicular traffic, fuel savings, enhanced train punctuality, and upgraded urban safety.

70th District-Level Chess Championship Begins at MDS Public School

Udaipur: The 70th District-Level Chess Championship was inaugurated at MDS Public School on September 20. The event was inaugurated by the schools founder, Ramesh Chandra Somani, who interacted with the players and formally opened the competition. He wished all participants success and encouraged them to give their best. Boys and girls from the Under-14, Under-17 ... Read more 70th District-Level Chess Championship Begins at MDS Public School

Parikshit Somani receives four-year suspension over doping violation

Indian tennis player Parikshit Somani has been suspended for four years after flunking a dope test during an ATP Challenger tournament in Astana last year. An independent tribunal of the international tennis integrity agency handed the player suspension. The 26-year-old Somani, who reached a career-high doubles ranking of 256 in July 2023, tested positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine in Kazakhstan on July 31, 2025. Somani was handed a provisional suspension on September 23, 2025. In February 2026, the player asserted that he had consumed food prepared by a family member, which had been contaminated by the family member's medicine during the food production process. This became the basis of Somani's explanation at a hearing before an independent tribunal on 19 August 2026. Having considered expert scientific opinions presented by Somani and the ITIA, the independent tribunal concluded that the food contamination theories were 'scientifically implausible', 'highly ..

Luxury hotels and hospitality take centerstage as Gujarat preps for centenary edition of CWG Games

Digital Desk | Ahmedabad, Sep 23 (IANS) With Ahmedabad getting ready to host the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2030 and the state setting its sights on Olympic Games 2036, the city's skyline is being shaped by slew of five-star luxury hotels and hospitality projects. Multiple luxury hotels, multi-storey buildings are taking shape in the city to welcome the sporting teams from across the globe, accompanied by thousands and lakhs of guests, slated to arrive in the city during centenary edition of the CWG Games. Many hotels, homestays are under construction, infrastructure development has taken centrestage while city's landscape in being spruced up. According to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, approvals were granted for around nine hotels in 2025 alone, and their construction is underway. Approvals for the construction of four additional hotels were granted this year. Five new five-star hotel projects are coming up along Sindhu Bhavan Road, with three of them already under construction. Plans are also in place to build a 16-storey, five-star hotel with 200300 rooms, along with a convention and exhibition centre, on the western bank of the Sabarmati river. Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani speaking to IANS, told, We approved around nine hotels within the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation area in 2025, and their construction is currently in progress. Approvals for four more hotels were granted in 2026, and construction work on these is also underway. A large number of hotels are being built at various locations across Ahmedabad city. Narendra Somani, Ahmedabad President of the Hotel Association, said, Preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games are underway. We are witnessing the development of infrastructure and hospitality projects across the city. Construction has already begun on three hotels near Sindhu Bhavan Road, and plans for two or three additional hotels have been submitted to the municipal corporation for approval; work on these is set to start soon. A large convention centre and a major five-star hotel are being built on the riverfront, alongside one or two new hotels near the airport. In addition to hotels, work is progressing on numerous projects related to roads, bridges, water supply, drainage, railways, and public transport. Notably, Ahmedabad is set to host Commonwealth Games 2030. As the Union government is planning to bid for hosting Olympics 2036, the pace of development in Ahmedabad could make it the de-facto first choice for the international sporting event.

Chargesheet Filed In Triple Murder Case

On June 22 this year, Somasundar (55), his wife Muthulakhmi (480 and their young daughter Supriya (20) were allegedly stabbed and hijacked to death inside their apartment at Sai Green Apartment in Dhamanik Layout in Seegehalli under KR Puram police station limits.

Four Arrested for Stealing Charity Box and Silver Crown from Temple in Bhubaneswar

Airfield Police have cracked a burglary case involving the Maa Tarini Temple in Bhimatangi by arresting four youths, including habitual offenders, on Monday. The arrested accused have been identified as Biku Bhoi alias Dhola (25), Sanjay Bhoi alias Gunga (26), and Silu Bhoi alias Silua (25)all residents of the Sundarpada areaalong with Somanatha Nayak alias [] The post Four Arrested for Stealing Charity Box and Silver Crown from Temple in Bhubaneswar appeared first on Pragativadi I Latest Odisha News in English I Breaking News .

BMC acts against airport mosque following

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a notice to Mumbai Airport authorities directing them to immediately disconnect the water supply line connecting to a mosque adjoining Terminal 2 after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya campaigned against it, alleging land jihad. Former BJP MP Somaiya, known for targeting Muslim-associated structures and areas, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

SGH-ni NH-217 ramani bidingo chang

BAGHMARA: South Garo Hills ajao NH-217 ramani bidingo Non-Coorperation Movement (NCM)-ko ongatangtaina tik kaanga. Iani bidingo nangrimgimin NGO-ni parakatani gitade, South Garo Hills ajani NH-217 ramako ruuta bilsina tarininggija galchipenganina batanggimin September 2 aro 3 tariko salgnina Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM)-ko ongate sal chibongana aganchakchina sorkarina somaiko ongenchimoba daalonaba maming namgipa aro kadongani kattarangko aganchaka dongjani []

Aditya, Sameer Best at Carrom Tournament

In the mens singles second round Shaik Sameer defeated Soma Srikanth 25-0, 25-0 while Sasi Nadipati and Aditya also scored wins with similar scores.

1,000 appointment letters distributed at Rozgar Mela in the country: V. Somanna

Rozgar Mela reflects Centres focus on youth employment, says Union Minister

1,000 appointment letters distributed at Rozgar Mela in the country: V. Somanna

Rozgar Mela reflects Centres focus on youth employment, says Union Minister

Students from Nagaland embark on 10-day Seema Darshan tour organised by Assam Rifles

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 19 (IANS) A group of students from Nagaland has embarked on a 10-day Seema Darshan Tour organised by the Assam Rifles under the Army's Spear Corps as part of Operation Sadbhavna, an initiative aimed at exposing youth from remote regions to the country's cultural diversity and strategic frontier areas. Such tours are part of Operation Sadbhavna, through which youngsters from remote areas get an opportunity to visit other parts of the country to learn more about India's rich and diverse culture. It also provides the children a chance to interact with personnel of the defence forces and learn more about their role in defending the country. The present batch includes 20 students and two teachers from the Government Higher Secondary School, Rusoma, in Kohima, Nagaland. They will be visiting Guwahati, Tenga, Tawang and Tezpur before returning to Kohima on September 28. This tour will give the young minds first-hand insight into India's rich diversity, frontier regions and the role of security forces in safeguarding the nation, the Spear Corps has posted on X. Both Tenga and Tawang are in Arunachal Pradesh and play a key role in the defence of India's northern border. At the same time, both places have a rich culture. Tezpur, in Assam, is also of immense strategic importance. It has the headquarters of the Army's IV Corps (Gajraj Corps) and also houses an Indian Air Force fighter base that operates frontline aircraft like the Su-30 MKI. This is the second such tour for the youth in Nagaland this year. In March, 20 students and three teachers from Bhandari in the Wokha district of Nagaland had travelled to Guwahati and Kolkata to explore important educational institutions and historical landmarks. In 2025, students and teachers from the PM Shri Government High School, Yangphi, in the Kiphire district of Nagaland were taken to Delhi and Agra. They visited historical landmarks like the Red Fort and Taj Mahal and also paid tribute at the National War Museum. During the present trip, interactions with senior military officers and community leaders have been planned. This will help foster national integration and empower the youth, the Army said.

Jharkhand HC extends stay on cancellations of JPSC, JSSC appointments; retired judge to monitor probe

Digital Desk | Ranchi, Sep 18 (IANS) The Jharkhand High Court on Friday extended its stay on the state government's decision to cancel appointments made through the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) examination and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) Combined Graduate Level (CGL) recruitment process. The court also appointed a retired High Court judge to oversee the investigation into the alleged irregularities in the recruitment exercises. A bench of Justice Deepak Roshan heard a batch of petitions challenging the government's decision to annul appointments made through various recruitment examinations, including the JPSC CDPO and JSSC-CGL exams. During the hearing, the court orally observed that while the material available so far suggests that not all appointments were made in a fair manner, it is equally true that not every appointment was tainted. The court expressed concern over the lengthy recruitment process followed by the JPSC, noting that it often takes two to three years to conduct examinations and complete appointments. In such circumstances, the bench observed, a blanket cancellation of appointments could adversely affect many officials against whom no individual wrongdoing has been established. To ensure impartial scrutiny of the allegations, the court appointed retired High Court judge Gautam Kumar Choudhary to monitor the investigation, while retired IPS officer R.K. Malik was designated as the nodal officer for the probe. During the proceedings, both the Jharkhand government and the JPSC submitted their responses before the court. In its affidavit, the state government defended its decision to cancel the JSSC-CGL examination, arguing that the entire recruitment process had been vitiated by alleged irregularities. According to the government, distinguishing between genuinely successful candidates and those who may have unfairly benefited had become difficult. The government cited Supreme Court guidelines that permit cancellation of an entire examination when the recruitment process is found to be irreparably compromised, and it becomes impossible to separate valid selections from tainted ones. On this basis, it justified its decision to scrap the CGL examination. The affidavit further stated that confidential examination-related work, including question paper printing and distribution to examination centres, had been entrusted to ICN Technology. According to the government, 28 individuals, including the company's CEO Somansh Prakash, have been arrested in connection with the alleged exam scam, while notices have been issued to 265 people. The government also claimed that the investigation had uncovered evidence suggesting that candidates were allegedly coached with answers at locations in Nepal, Asansol, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharia and Bokaro. Of the 28 candidates taken to Nepal, 10 were successful in the CGL examination, the affidavit stated. The investigation is still underway. Senior advocates Rajeev Ranjan, Indrajeet Sinha, Amritansh Vats, Kumar Harsh, Sonal Tiwari and Subhash Rasik Soren, among others, appeared for the petitioners. The state government was represented by senior advocate Meenakshi Arora and Advocate General Rohitashwa Roy, while the JPSC was represented by advocates Sanjay Piperwal and Prince Kumar.

Bengaluru Cantonment station redevelopment to be ready by December: Somanna

Bengaluru Cantonment railway station will open by December 2026 after a Rs 485 crore redevelopment. Yesvantpur station upgrades will finish by November, and KSR Bengaluru station master plan is underway. Track capacity around Bengaluru is expanding to manage rising passenger and freight traffic. A mega coaching terminal at Yelahanka is planned for future rail needs. The Railways is also eliminating level crossings and quadrupling the Bengaluru-Tumakuru line.

New eel species described from Arabian Sea, named after CMFRI

New species, named Ariosoma cmfriense, was collected from the waters off Kollam in Keralam at a depth of about 300 m in January 2026

UN relief chief fast-tracks funds for displaced people in Yemen

Digital Desk | United Nations, Sep 16 (IANS) UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher has released 9 million US dollars in urgent funds to provide assistance to displaced Yemeni families and their host communities, said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The United Nations and its humanitarian partners continue to support displaced families and others caught up in the hostilities. But humanitarian supplies and resources are running low, said OCHA on Tuesday (local time). Humanitarian access and movement remain severely constrained due to insecurity. Movement along key routes is restricted or suspended, making it harder to reach many of those in dire need, said OCHA. The office calls on all parties to protect civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access so that urgently needed assistance can reach people in need, reports Xinhua news agency. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that escalating hostilities along Yemen's western coast have displaced more than 100,000 people inside the country and forced thousands more to seek safety across Bab al-Mandab Strait in Djibouti. The UNHCR said that humanitarian access is a major challenge and that insecurity, damaged roads, telecommunications disruptions and movement restrictions affect operations. Damage to Al Makha port has further constrained humanitarian movement and logistics. The agency said that fighting has uprooted families across several governorates, raising concerns about further displacement inside Yemen and additional refugee movements if hostilities intensify. Many families fled at short notice with few belongings. Shelter, food, clean water, health care and protection services are among the most urgent needs, as receiving communities and displacement sites become overstretched, said the UNHCR. The agency said that over the past four days, more than 2,400 people have made the sea crossing from Yemen to Djibouti. More than 60 per cent were women, children and older people. People are arriving after a difficult sea journey, many exhausted, distressed and carrying what little they could take with them, said Sandrine Desamours, the UNHCR representative in Djibouti. The response is already under pressure. We urgently need more support before more families arrive and needs outpace our capacity to assist them. The UNHCR is also monitoring the possibility of onward or parallel movements toward Somalia, where contingency planning is under way should additional arrivals materialise. The agency said it is deeply concerned about more than 65,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers inside Yemen, most from Somalia and Ethiopia, who face renewed risks.

Where is he now?: Kash Patel pressed on Somali-born Minnesota Medicaid fraudster at Senate hearing

Where is he now?: Kash Patel pressed on Somali-born Minnesota Medicaid fraudster at Senate hearing

Who was Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha? Meet India's first woman engineer who broke gender barriers in a male-dominated field

In 1943, Ayyalasomayajula Lalitha shattered societal norms by becoming India's first woman engineer. Overcoming personal loss, she delved into electrical engineering, gaining hands-on experience at a railway workshop and contributing to pivotal infrastructure projects. Her influence extended beyond borders as she represented female engineers from India at international conferences, inspiring countless future women in the engineering field.

171 Somali Migrants Return Home Safely from Libya

A special charter flight has brought 171 Somali migrants back home from Libya, facilitated by the International Organization for Migration. 171 Somali Migrants Return Home Safely from Libya

171 Somali Migrants Return Home from Libya with IOMs Help

171 Somali migrants have returned home from Libya, facilitated by the IOM, after facing exploitation and hardship. 171 Somali Migrants Return Home from Libya with IOMs Help

Central Railway emerges champion in Railway Athletics tournament

Digital Desk | Kolkata, Sep 13 (IANS) Central Railway has emerged as the overall champion at the 91st All Railway Athletics Championship that came to an end at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Stadium in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The tournament was organised by the Railway Sports Promotion Board, Eastern Railway Sports Association (ERSA) and was inaugurated by Eastern Railway (ER) general manager Gitika Pandey on September 11, 2026. During the concluding event, she handed over prizes to the various teams and participants. While the Central Railway Team bagged the overall Championship Trophy, Southern Railway was the runner-up. The hosts (ER) won four gold medals. Two of these were won by Lili Das, while Moumita Mandal and Khyati Mathur won the remaining two. Bhagavadi Bhavani from Southern Railway was adjudged the Best Female Athlete, while David, also from Southern Railway, was declared the Best Male Athlete. The South Western Railway Womens Team won the Women's Championship Cup. The runners-up position in the Womens category went to Southern Railway. In the Mens category, Central Railway emerged as team champion, while Northern Railway secured the runners-up position. The championship witnessed the participation of 24 teams from different zonal railways, production units, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF), with over individuals, including athletes, coaches, and team managers, taking part in various events. Many of those who participated are national- and international-level athletes, a senior ER official said. The railway is among the organisations that provide necessary support to sportspersons. Talent is scouted and nurtured, and medal winners at national and international competitions are provided employment through the sports quota. These sportspersons continue to train further and win more honours at important competitions, such as the Asian Games and Olympics. Many such sportspersons were present during the tournament. They included Arjuna Awardees Joseph Abraham, Jitendra Kumar, J J Shobha, Pappu Yadav, Soma Biswas, Saraswati Saha, Padma Shri recipient L Bombayla Devi, Mohammad Ali Qamar (also a Dronacharya Awardee, and Olympians Sanjay Ray and Bhawana Jat. ER general manager Pandey congratulated the winners and participants, encouraging them to strive for even greater achievements in future championships. This was the second year in a row that Eastern Railway organised this tournament. ER has been at the forefront of promoting sports and nurturing young talent through various tournaments, ER CPRO Shibram Majhi, who is also an office bearer of the ERSA, said.

BRS women MLAs complain to NHRC, NCW over Telangana Police assault

Digital Desk | Hyderabad, Sep 11 (IANS) Women MLAs belonging to BRS on Friday approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) in New Delhi, alleging that Telangana Police assaulted and humiliated them while preventing them from entering the State Assembly. They sought the intervention of the national commissions over alleged violations of their rights as elected representatives and the conduct of police personnel. A delegation of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLAs, MLCs and MPs and senior leaders separately met NHRC Member Vijaya Bharathi and NCW Chairperson Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar and submitted representations detailing the incident. According to a BRS release in Hyderabad, former ministers and BRS MLAs P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and V. Sunitha Lakshma Reddy apprised the commissions of the alleged police action at the Assembly entrance. They alleged that they were manhandled despite being women legislators and accused the police of preventing elected representatives from entering the House. Sabitha Indra Reddy alleged that she was physically restrained and that police personnel pulled her by the hair and pressed her throat during the incident. Sunitha Lakshma Reddy alleged that her saree was pulled, causing her severe humiliation. The BRS leaders questioned the authority of the police to prevent elected legislators from entering the Assembly premises. The BRS leaders also alleged that despite lodging a complaint with Telangana Police, no action had been taken so far. They pointed out that more than 100 hours had passed since the incident, yet no FIR had been registered against those allegedly responsible for assaulting the women MLAs, while cases were instead registered against BRS legislators. The leaders lashed out at the Telangana government for remaining silent over the alleged police excesses and demanded accountability. The BRS delegation urged the NHRC and NCW to order a comprehensive and impartial inquiry, ensure preservation of all CCTV footage from the Assembly premises, identify those responsible and initiate appropriate action. They also sought protection for the dignity and rights of women legislators. Former Ministers G. Jagadish Reddy and Satyavathi Rathod, MLC Surabhi Vani Devi, MLAs Kova Lakshmi and Palla Rajeshwar Reddy, MP Vaddiraju Ravichandra and BRS leaders Soma Bharat Kumar and others were part of the delegation.

Sharmilas Daughter Set To Tie The Knot

YS Sharmilas daughter Anjili Reddy is reportedly set to marry US-based physician Dr Somala Raghuram Reddy, with wedding preparations under way.

BJP Leader Calls for Demolition of Mosque Near Mumbai Airport, Accuses Opponents of Land Jihad

Kirit Somaiya demands the removal of an illegal mosque near Mumbai Airport, alleging systematic changes to the citys demographics. BJP Leader Calls for Demolition of Mosque Near Mumbai Airport, Accuses Opponents of Land Jihad

MMRDA declares airport-adjacent structure illegal; Kirit Somaiya demands immediate demolition

Digital Desk | Mumbai, Sep 10 (IANS) Tensions have escalated near Mumbais Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2) after the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed that a religious structure operating near the high-security zone lacks statutory planning permissions and is unauthorised. Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged a deliberate attempt at unauthorised land occupation -- characterising the structure as Land Jihad -- and has pressed state authorities and site operators to initiate criminal action against the trustees and individuals responsible. Following complaints regarding unauthorised construction near sensitive airport land, MMRDA verified that no official approvals, building sanctions, or permissions were ever granted for the religious structure. MMRDA has issued formal notices to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) directing the immediate removal and demolition of the unauthorised structure to ensure the perimeter remains clear. Somaiya has formally requested both MMRDA and MIAL to go beyond physical clearance by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the managing trustees and individuals associated with the illegal construction. The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny surrounding unauthorised encroachments adjacent to critical national infrastructure. Officials note that unregulated structures near VIP corridors, taxi parking lanes, and terminal facilities pose significant security hazards. The matter aligns with previous judicial observations where courts have emphasised that public safety and secure zones near international hubs supersede unauthorised religious claims or structures erected without explicit administrative approvals. Authorities from MIAL and local police departments are currently reviewing directives provided by MMRDA regarding execution steps and necessary security arrangements during the scheduled clearance drive.

No permission granted for structure near Mumbai Airport T2, MMRDA directs MIAL to take action: BJP

The MMRDA has confirmed no permission was granted for a structure near Mumbai Airport's Terminal 2. This authority has now directed Mumbai International Airport Ltd to remove the mosque. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had previously raised concerns about this alleged unauthorized construction. He requested that FIRs be registered against the individuals responsible for this development. Action is expected to be taken by the airport operator following due procedure.

Student injured as ceiling plaster falls on her at government school near Tambaram

Somangalam police and Education Department officials conducted an inquiry

Chennai corporation intensifies dengue surveillance after intermittent rain

Digital Desk | Chennai, Sep 9 (IANS) The Greater Chennai Corporation has intensified dengue surveillance and mosquito-control operations across all 15 city zones as intermittent rain raises the risk of water stagnation and fresh breeding sites. The civic body has directed health teams to closely monitor neighbourhoods where dengue infections have been reported and carry out stronger source-reduction measures. The renewed drive is intended to identify fever cases early, eliminate mosquito-breeding habitats and prevent local clusters from spreading. The instructions followed a district-level review meeting chaired by Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Dr Somasundaram. Zonal health officials were told to maintain heightened surveillance in affected localities and ensure that preventive work is carried out without delay. Private hospitals have been asked to submit daily reports on patients being treated for fever. The reporting system is expected to give public health officials a more immediate picture of possible outbreaks, enabling field teams to respond quickly in areas showing an increase in cases. Mosquito-control workers conducting door-to-door visits have also been instructed to gather information about residents suffering from fever. Any such case must be brought immediately to the attention of the respective health inspector for verification, follow-up and further reporting. Alongside surveillance, the Corporation has ordered an intensified campaign to remove discarded materials and other objects capable of collecting rainwater. Special attention will be given to vacant plots, hospitals, schools, government offices, parks and construction sites, where unattended containers and debris can turn into mosquito-breeding grounds. Officials are expected to inspect vulnerable premises and ensure that stagnant water is cleared regularly. The measures cover both public spaces and private properties, reflecting concern that even small collections of water can support mosquito breeding following spells of rain. Residents have been asked to support the campaign by preventing waste from accumulating around their homes. They should keep overhead tanks, ground-level tanks and wells properly covered, and check their premises regularly for stagnant water. The civic body has particularly advised households to empty water collected in flower-pot trays and other containers at least once every week. Similar checks should be carried out on terraces, balconies and yards after rainfall. The Corporation said coordinated reporting by hospitals, field workers and residents would be crucial to detecting fever cases early and reducing dengue risk across Chennai during the wet spell.

Resurgence of Somali Pirates Raises Concerns for India

Somali pirates are re-emerging, raising alarm for Indias maritime security and trade routes amid recent hijacking incidents. Resurgence of Somali Pirates Raises Concerns for India

Apologise right now!: GOP lawmakers grill Tim Walz over Minnesota Somali fraud

World leaders express grief over passing of Tanzania's First Gentleman

Digital Desk | Dar es Salaam, Sep 7 (IANS) World leaders expressed grief on Monday over the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, Tanzania's First Gentleman and husband of President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who died at a hospital in Zanzibar while being treated for a heart ailment. Vice President Deogratius Ndejembi announced the death, saying Hafidh died at about 8 a.m. He was to be buried the same day at Kizimkazi in Zanzibar. I have received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of Hafidh Ameir Hassan, husband of Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Kenyan President William Ruto said in a post on X. On behalf of the Government and people of Kenya, the First Lady, my family and on my own behalf, I convey our heartfelt condolences to President Samia, her family and the people of Tanzania. President Samia has lost a lifelong companion, her children a beloved father, and Tanzania a distinguished son. Kenya stands with our Tanzanian brothers and sisters in this moment of grief. May Almighty God comfort President Samia and her family, give them strength through this difficult time, and grant Hafidh Ameir Hassan eternal rest. My sincere condolences to my sister, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, her family, and the people of Tanzania on the passing of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said. The Government and people of Rwanda stand in solidarity with President Samia Suluhu Hassan and our brothers and sisters in Tanzania as they honour the life and legacy of H.E. Hafidh Ameir Hassan. We convey our deepest condolences to Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan on the passing of her husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said. We stand side by side with the first family, and all citizens of the United Republic of Tanzania during this difficult time. I extend my deepest condolences to Her Excellency Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, on the passing of her husband, Hafidh Ameir Hassan. Somalia stands with her family and the people of Tanzania in this time of grief. May Allah grant him Jannatul Firdaws, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said. Hafidh, an agricultural expert who kept a low public profile, married Samia in 1978. The couple had four children.

Crossing party lines, rebels and rows: Rajasthan civic polls take a dramatic turn

Jaipur, Sep 7 (IANS) Rajasthan's urban local body elections are producing scenes that go far beyond the usual Bharatiya Janata Party-versus-Congress contest. In the final days before voting, party lines appear blurred in some wards, political friendships are taking centre stage in others, while rebellion, protests and unusual campaign tactics are adding drama to the electoral battle. From Nathdwara to Sikar, Kota to Jodhpur and Dungarpur to Jaipur, the campaign trail has witnessed everything from a BJP candidate openly supporting a Congress rival to a Congress candidate blessing a JP contestant and even dogs being released outside the office of a BJP rebel. One of the most striking developments has emerged from Nathdwara in Rajsamand district, where BJP candidate Dinesh Prajapat announced his support for Congress nominee Ajay Gurjar in Ward 23, just days before polling. Prajapat, however, made it clear that his political identity remains with the BJP and that he would continue to remain associated with the party. The episode has added an unexpected twist to what would ordinarily be a straightforward BJP-Congress contest. It also highlights the importance of personal equations and local-level dynamics in municipal elections, where candidates often face voters with whom they have long-standing social and personal relationships. An equally unusual scene unfolded in Sikar's Ward 15, where former Municipal Council chairman and Congress candidate Jeevan Khan was seen blessing BJP candidate Simran during campaigning. Khan placed his hand on Simran's head in a gesture of goodwill, creating a striking image of political rivals sharing a moment of warmth during an otherwise fiercely contested election. The incident underlines how local elections can sometimes produce relationships that do not fit neatly into conventional party politics. Kota provided another example of political civility. In Ward 54, BJP candidate Vivek Rajvanshi and Congress candidate Manish Sharma reportedly shook hands when they came face-to-face during campaigning. Elsewhere in Kota, candidates adopted more unconventional campaign styles. BJP candidate Pratibha Suman was seen roasting peanuts on a roadside pushcart in Ward 64, while BJP candidate Soma Ahluwalia reportedly bowed before elderly residents during her campaign in Ward 56. Not every story from the campaign trail has been about political drama. Residents of Royal Suncity Colony in Kota's Ward 33 have announced a boycott of voting, alleging inadequate development work in their area. The protest puts local civic issues at the heart of the election debate and signals that candidates must answer not only for party politics but also for visible work or the lack of it on the ground. Kota also witnessed an unusual voter-list error in Ward 29. In Part 12, the details of a voter named Jagdish, including his name, father's name and house number, were reportedly correct, but the photograph displayed against the entry was that of Lord Hanuman. The unusual error has raised questions about the accuracy of electoral rolls and the verification process. The election battle took a particularly unusual turn in Dungarpur's Ward 31. On Friday, a Municipal Council shelter-home vehicle reportedly released around 15 dogs outside the office of Sunil Jain, a BJP rebel contesting as an independent. Jain alleged that the incident was an abuse of official machinery intended to weaken his campaign. The allegation has added another layer to the growing tensions between official party candidates and rebels contesting independently. Political tensions also surfaced in Jaipur's Ward 149, where residents reportedly surrounded the vehicle of Amer MLA Prashant Sahdev Sharma during his campaign visit in support of Congress candidate Anjali Brahmbhatt. The protesters allegedly waved black flags as the MLA arrived in the Handipura area, turning the campaign visit into a moment of confrontation. Amid the local-level turbulence, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma continued the BJP's campaign pitch. Addressing a gathering in Bikaner, he said people were moving from a double-engine government towards a riple-engine government, referring to coordination between governments at different levels. He in fact has organised roadshows in Bikaner, Udaipur and Ajmer. However, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, verbally attacking the BJP government in the state, said, It is the first time a Chief Minister feels compelled to conduct a roadshow for local self-government elections, including municipal corporations, municipal councils, and municipalities. This isn't a positive sign; it is their biggest drawback. They have effectively proved that the government has been non-functional for the past two and a half years, leading to widespread public anger. The Rajasthan civic elections are increasingly looking less like a simple BJP-versus-Congress contest and more like a collection of local political dramas. Candidates are crossing traditional lines, rivals are exchanging gestures of goodwill, rebels are challenging party establishments, residents are threatening boycotts, and campaign events are producing unexpected confrontations. Ultimately, however, the decisive actor remains the voter. Behind the headlines, the real question is whether these unusual campaign moments translate into votes on polling day or remain memorable episodes from one of Rajasthan's most colourful municipal election campaigns.

Why Pirate Attacks Are Rising Again Near Somalia

At least 15 attacks on ships have been reported in the region so far in 2026, compared with just five in 2025.

Andhra Congress chief Sharmila announces daughter Anjilis marriage to U.S.-based doctor

The groom is the son of Somala Subba Reddy and Somala Padma Reddy, and his family hails from Kurnool district and has settled in the United States